Editorial: State must align primary dates

That might be the best way to sum up a proposal by state Senate Republicans to hold New York's primaries in August instead of September or June.

Earlier this year, state Senate Democrats made a push to move the state primaries to June, which is a better idea among imperfect choices.

One thing should be perfectly clear: The state must avoid having separate primary dates for state and congressional races. It costs the state about $50 million to hold a primary, and multiple ones are an inconvenience to voters.

It's imperative the state align itself with federal rules that necessitate earlier primaries than what once was the case. While the state has held early September primaries for the last 40 years or so, the federal government deemed that congressional primaries should be held earlier, and with good reason. There have been legitimate concerns about ensuring there is enough time between that primary vote and the November elections for absentee ballots - particularly overseas military ballots - to be mailed and returned.

But, before the 2012 elections, New York leaders couldn't agree on when to hold the congressional primary, so a federal judge stepped in and selected a day in June.

Senate Democrats believe the state should move its primaries for local and state races from September to June as well, but Republicans are resisting, saying it would interfere with the close of the New York legislative session.

While there is some merit to that argument, August has its drawbacks as well, including being a popular month for people to be away on vacation and, thus, driving down the already low numbers of people participating in primaries.

Besides, an earlier primary date will give challengers more time to build up some name recognition before the general election when they most likely will have to try to unseat incumbents who have plenty of advantages in seeking re-election.

State Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk, D-Duanesburg, has offered a contingency plan - but it is one that never should be needed.

It would require the state to reimburse counties if Albany doesn't reach an agreement to hold these primaries on the same date. State Assemblyman Kieran Michael Lalor, R-Fishkill, and others back this bipartisan legislation.

While it's a laudable fall-back plan, state lawmakers must see the imperative of getting "job one" done when it comes to this issue - and that is making sure the local, state and federal primaries are on the same day, preferably in June.

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Editorial: State must align primary dates

Better but not nearly good enough. That might be the best way to sum up a proposal by state Senate Republicans to hold New York?s primaries in August instead of September or June.